Collaborative research at centre of new Hutton-ILVO partnership

“It is a pleasure to establish links with ILVO as there is huge potential for collaboration. This partnership represents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to realise scientific collaboration between Scotland and Flanders.”

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) and the James Hutton Institute to promote cooperation in research on plant crop and soil science, agriculture, ecology, food science, geography and socioeconomic sciences.

The MoU was signed by Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute, and Mr Joris Relaes, ILVO General Manager, during a visit of an ILVO delegation to the Institute's Dundee site.

Both institutions are interested in cooperating on educational and researcher exchange programmes, potential collaboration on EU-funded research projects, and joint work on social challenges, soil health and protein diversification initiatives.

On behalf of the Institute, Professor Campbell commented: “It is a pleasure to establish links with ILVO as there is huge potential for collaboration. This partnership represents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to realise scientific collaboration between Scotland and Flanders.”

ILVO carries out multidisciplinary, innovative and independent research aimed at economically, ecologically and socially sustainable agriculture and fisheries. Through this research, ILVO accumulates fundamental and applied knowledge, which is vital for the improvement of products and production methods for quality control and the safety of end products, and for the improvement of policy instruments as a foundation for sector development and agricultural policy for rural areas in Flanders and beyond.